King Charles snubs Queen’s promise to Prince Edward

King Charles has reportedly made a big call on titles within the royal family, with one in particular going against the Queen’s promise.

Prince Edward will miss out on becoming Duke of Edinburgh, despite the Queen making that promise to him before her death.

His Majesty King Charles III will instead keep the title himself without using it in order to achieve a slimmed down monarchy, a courtier has revealed, according to The Sun.

The late Queen and Prince Philip had promised that Prince Edward would get the title in the event of his father’s death, when he married Sophie Wessex in 1999.

Philip died in April 2021 aged 99, while the Queen died in September aged 96.

A source told the Daily Mail: “The King wants to slim down the monarchy, as is well known. That means it wouldn’t make sense to make the Earl the Duke of Edinburgh.

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Sophie, Countess of Wessex and her husband Prince Edward, who was supposed to take on the Edinburgh title. Picture: Chris Radburn/POOL/AFP

They added: “It’s a hereditary title which would then be passed on to the Earl and Countess of Wessex’s son, James, Viscount Severn.

“Essentially, this was accepted by the Earl when he agreed that his children would not be a prince or princess.”

A Buckingham Palace statement after Prince Edward’s wedding 23 years ago said: “The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course when the present title held now by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown.”

It comes after the King asked Parliament to expand his Counsellors of State to include Prince Edward and Princess Anne. This will allow his siblings to be able to stand in for him when he is overseas or unwell.

The move was largely to avoid Princes Harry or Andrew being called upon.

Writing to the House of Lords, King Charles said he would be “most content” if the number of Counsellors of State “be increased to include my brother and sister, the Princess Royal and Earl of Wessex.”

King Charles III wishes to slim down the monarchy. Picture: Isabel Infantes/POOL/AFP

The statement read: “To ensure continued efficiency of public business when I‘m unavailable, such as while I’m undertaking official duties overseas, I confirm that I would be most content should Parliament see fit for the number of people who may be called upon to act as counsellors of State under the terms of the Regency acts 1937 to 1963 to be increased to include my sister and brother, the Princess Royal, and the Earl of Wessex and Forfar.

“Both of whom have previously undertaken this role.”

It was previously reported that Charles was considering changing the law so counsellors of the state are only working members of the Royal Family.

Both Harry and Andrew remain Counsellors of State under British law, although the pair are no longer working royals.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as King Charles snubs Queen’s promise to Prince Edward